Re: [CR] Bicycles as Movie Props

(Example: Events:BVVW)

From: <stronglight49@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:36:58 -0500
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Bicycles as Movie Props


Here is a truly shameless plug for a favorite movie. Certainly, a MUST SEE movie is the 1964 film "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). The opening title sequence features an aerial view of (of course) open umbrellas, but also many bicycles passing across the cobblestones which fill the frame. I've never done an actual count, but for at least the first 20 minutes of the film there are definitely far more bicycles seen passing along the rainy streets of the seaport town of Cherbourg than cars.

The Umbrella shop (from which the film gets its title) which is owned by the mother of the character played by actress Catherine Deneuve is located directly across the street from the quaint looking Cherbourg bicycle store. And again bikes are prominently displayed in the windows seen in the background in several scenes - I just wish I could see more details.

The hero of the film works in an automotive service garage, but he commutes to work on a bicycle. At work, he hangs the bike from a ceiling hook in the locker room along side several other bicycles which are ridden by the other mechanics. In spite of the continuous rain throughout the film, the bike always appears as clean, bright and shiny as any of our own pampered collectible wall hangers might look today.

His bike is a classic French Randonneur/City style production bike with the name "La France" on the down tube. The bike is fitted with drop bars and with guidonnet brake levers which follow along the top of the bar and has Mafac center-pull brake calipers. Also clearly seen are beautiful alloy hammered-style fenders fitted with a rim-dynamo powered headlight and tail light. There is a rear luggage rack and a chainguard each painted to match the frame enamel. And a small Mafac-style tool bag hangs from the leather saddle.

Buy the DVD (distributed by Koch/Lorber in the US). The film won the Grand Prize at the Cannes film festival in 1964. A lovely haunting romantic film (yes, I still ALWAYS cry when watching it). And for cycling fans it depicts an idyllic image of a small French city of 50 years ago... suitably filled with countless bicycles and cyclists going about their everyday tasks - just as we might think all of 1950s France must have been... at least in the eye of my nostalgic imagination.

BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA